Scientists detect Earth's first ‘ghost plume' deep beneath Oman
MUSCAT: A team of international scientists has discovered what they believe is the first confirmed "ghost plume" — a hidden column of superheated rock rising from deep within the Earth's interior — beneath the eastern region of Oman. Unlike most mantle plumes, which are typically associated with volcanic activity at the surface, this newly identified plume shows no visible signs above ground, making it exceptionally difficult to detect.
The research, recently published in the prestigious journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, offers evidence of the plume, which the scientists have named the 'Dani Plume'. According to the scientists, the discovery could reshape how geologists understand the inner workings of our planet, particularly beneath continents where such features have long been suspected but rarely confirmed.
Mantle plumes are hot, buoyant upwellings of rock that originate from the boundary between Earth's core and mantle — roughly 2,890 kilometers beneath the surface. As these plumes rise, they often create volcanoes and dramatic surface changes due to melting rock pushing through the crust. However, in continental regions, the thick and rigid lithosphere can prevent this molten material from reaching the surface, effectively hiding the plume from view.
According to the journal, the Dani plume is an exception because, while it leaves no volcanic signature on the surface, its presence is revealed through detailed seismic analysis. When earthquake-generated waves passed through the region, scientists noticed they slowed down, indicating the presence of hotter and softer rock beneath Oman. Additional data from field measurements and computer models confirmed thermal and structural anomalies deep within the Earth.
The plume is estimated to be between 200 and 300 kilometers in diameter, and up to 300°C hotter than the surrounding mantle. Although small in size, it appears to have been active for tens of millions of years. In fact, the researchers suggest it may have influenced the movement of the Indian tectonic plate around 40 million years ago and could still be affecting surface elevations in Oman today.
'This study presents interdisciplinary evidence for the existence of a 'ghost' plume beneath eastern Oman,' the researchers wrote, emphasizing that while no single piece of data was conclusive on its own, together the findings formed a robust picture.
Importantly, the study also suggests that more heat may be escaping from Earth's core than previously thought. This could require scientists to revise their models of how the Earth's interior cools and evolves over time — and reassess how heat-producing elements are distributed within the planet.
'These findings have broader implications for understanding Earth's thermal and geological evolution,' the authors noted, adding that detecting hidden plumes could help scientists better model plate tectonics, ancient climate change, and even the origins of life.
The scientific team comprised: Simone Pilia (Kind Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals – Saudi Arabia), Giampiero Iaffaldano (University of Parma – Italy), D Rhodri Davies (Australian National University), Mohammad Ismaiel (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research – India), Paolo A Sossi (ETH Zurich – Switzerland), Scott Whattam (King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals), Dapeng Zhao (Tohoku University – Japan), and Hao Hu (Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power – China.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
3 days ago
- Observer
India, Poland, Hungary make spaceflight comeback with ISS mission
CAPE CANAVERAL: A US commercial mission carrying crew from India, Poland and Hungary blasted off to the International Space Station on Wednesday, taking astronauts from these countries to space for the first time in decades. Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:31 am, with a brand-new SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket. The vehicle is scheduled to dock with the orbital lab on Thursday at approximately 11:00 GMT and remain there for up to 14 days. Aboard the spacecraft were pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India; mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary; and commander Peggy Whitson of the United States, a former NASA astronaut who now works for the company Axiom Space, which organizes private spaceflights, among other things. The last time India, Poland or Hungary sent people to space, their current crop of astronauts had not yet been born — and back then they were called cosmonauts, as they all flew on Soviet missions before the fall of the Iron Curtain. Shukla became the first Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma, an air force pilot who traveled to the Salyut 7 space station in 1984 as part of a Soviet-led initiative to help allied countries access space. India's space agency, ISRO, sees this flight as a key stepping stone toward its own maiden crewed mission, planned for 2027 under the Gaganyaan programme, meaning "sky craft" in Hindi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the successful launch of the Ax-4 space mission. "He (Shukla) carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!" he wrote on X. All three countries are footing the bill for their astronauts. Hungary announced in 2022 it was paying $100 million for its seat, according to India and Poland have not disclosed how much they are spending. "We've got this! Poland has reached for the stars," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X, alongside a video himself watching the launch on a screen at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw. "Who knows how many future Polish astronauts watched Slawosz's launch with me? Everyone was very excited and very proud," Tusk said in another post, which included a photo of him seated next to several children at the science centre. The Ax-4 launch comes after multiple issues delayed the mission, originally slated for early June. It also follows an explosive online spat between US President Donald Trump and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, the world's richest person and, until recently, Trump's ally and advisor. — AFP
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Times of Oman
Study discovers Oman's geological formation reshaping world terrain
Times News Service MUSCAT: A new scientific study has identified a hidden geological formation beneath Oman that has been slowly lifting the Earth's surface for tens of millions of years. The discovery places the Sultanate at the centre of a significant breakthrough in the understanding of Earth's interior. The structure, known as the Dani plume, is described as a 'phantom' mantle plume — a column of hot rock rising from deep within the Earth that does not produce volcanic eruptions or leave surface traces. Instead, this silent force pushes upwards from beneath the Salma Plateau in northeastern Oman, contributing to subtle but continuous land uplift. The findings were published this month in the international journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters. This discovery marks the first time scientists have detected such a structure outside the context of active volcanic areas. No volcanoes, but the ground is rising Unlike volcanic plumes found in areas such as Hawaii or Iceland, the Dani plume is amagmatic — meaning it does not erupt or create visible volcanoes. It lies approximately 200 to 300 kilometres beneath the surface, with temperatures estimated to be 100 to 300°C hotter than the surrounding mantle rock. Despite its depth, researchers say its effects are evident. Geological layers originally laid down during the Paleocene-Eocene period — roughly 50 million years ago — have been found more than 2,000 metres above their initial positions. Although this shift has occurred at a very slow pace, with present-day rates estimated at less than one millimetre per year, the cumulative effect over geological timescales is significant. Discovered through seismic imaging in Oman The plume was detected using seismic wave data from Oman's geophysical monitoring network. Researchers observed that sound waves travelling through the region moved differently than expected, indicating a large mass of hotter, less dense material deep underground. Led by Dr. Simone Pilia, the international research team identified the plume as the first of its kind beneath a continental landmass — unlike previously known plumes which typically lie under oceanic plates. 'This is a structure that challenges many of our assumptions about how the Earth's mantle works,' said Dr. Pilia. 'It shows that deep heat and pressure are shaping the landscape even where there is no volcanic activity.' The discovery sheds new light on Oman's geological activity and could help explain patterns of regional shift and crustal movement. While the plume does not pose any direct hazard, its presence offers new context for long-term tectonic processes in the region — including the Makran subduction zone to the northeast. Geologists believe that similar 'ghost' plumes may exist under other continents but remain undetected due to their lack of surface activity. The Dani plume's discovery opens the door to further research across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. Evidence suggests that the plume's heat may have contributed to the shifting of the plate, a process that began around 50 million years ago. The study's authors speculate that this event may have even contributed to the formation of the Himalayas, though more research is needed to confirm this link.
Observer
6 days ago
- Observer
Scientists detect Earth's first ‘ghost plume' deep beneath Oman
MUSCAT: A team of international scientists has discovered what they believe is the first confirmed "ghost plume" — a hidden column of superheated rock rising from deep within the Earth's interior — beneath the eastern region of Oman. Unlike most mantle plumes, which are typically associated with volcanic activity at the surface, this newly identified plume shows no visible signs above ground, making it exceptionally difficult to detect. The research, recently published in the prestigious journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, offers evidence of the plume, which the scientists have named the 'Dani Plume'. According to the scientists, the discovery could reshape how geologists understand the inner workings of our planet, particularly beneath continents where such features have long been suspected but rarely confirmed. Mantle plumes are hot, buoyant upwellings of rock that originate from the boundary between Earth's core and mantle — roughly 2,890 kilometers beneath the surface. As these plumes rise, they often create volcanoes and dramatic surface changes due to melting rock pushing through the crust. However, in continental regions, the thick and rigid lithosphere can prevent this molten material from reaching the surface, effectively hiding the plume from view. According to the journal, the Dani plume is an exception because, while it leaves no volcanic signature on the surface, its presence is revealed through detailed seismic analysis. When earthquake-generated waves passed through the region, scientists noticed they slowed down, indicating the presence of hotter and softer rock beneath Oman. Additional data from field measurements and computer models confirmed thermal and structural anomalies deep within the Earth. The plume is estimated to be between 200 and 300 kilometers in diameter, and up to 300°C hotter than the surrounding mantle. Although small in size, it appears to have been active for tens of millions of years. In fact, the researchers suggest it may have influenced the movement of the Indian tectonic plate around 40 million years ago and could still be affecting surface elevations in Oman today. 'This study presents interdisciplinary evidence for the existence of a 'ghost' plume beneath eastern Oman,' the researchers wrote, emphasizing that while no single piece of data was conclusive on its own, together the findings formed a robust picture. Importantly, the study also suggests that more heat may be escaping from Earth's core than previously thought. This could require scientists to revise their models of how the Earth's interior cools and evolves over time — and reassess how heat-producing elements are distributed within the planet. 'These findings have broader implications for understanding Earth's thermal and geological evolution,' the authors noted, adding that detecting hidden plumes could help scientists better model plate tectonics, ancient climate change, and even the origins of life. The scientific team comprised: Simone Pilia (Kind Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals – Saudi Arabia), Giampiero Iaffaldano (University of Parma – Italy), D Rhodri Davies (Australian National University), Mohammad Ismaiel (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research – India), Paolo A Sossi (ETH Zurich – Switzerland), Scott Whattam (King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals), Dapeng Zhao (Tohoku University – Japan), and Hao Hu (Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power – China.
